Aqua minister faces corruption allegations
Chile’s Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Raúl Súnico Galdames, has resigned following allegations that he accepted bribes from commercial fishing companies.
The allegations were made by the website Ciper, which claimed the official promoted the fishing industry in the Municipality of Talcahuano, at a time when his spouse made 34 ballots for the Association of Fishing Industry (Asipes). Ciper claims to have had access to Asipes documents that show how Súnico has favoured the industry.
In his defence, Súnico Galdames stated that the allegations were “unacceptable and without any foundation other than wanting to damage my image” and pointed out that he did not hold public office at the time.
He added that: "I appreciate the confidence and support of President Michelle Bachelet and Economy Minister Luis Felipe Céspedes...I also thank, with all my heart, each of the officials of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture for their professionalism and commitment. This attack on me is also a totally unfair attack on this institution."
